The anti-immigrant party, Alternative for Germany (AfD), entered the federal parliament for the first time with just over 12% of the vote, and now makes up the largest opposition group.

Fresh start for Germany or reverting to type?

Analysis by the BBC’s Jenny Hill in Berlin

There were flowers, smiles, congratulations for Angela Merkel in the German parliament. There was also a sense of relief. After all it is the end of nearly six months of almost unprecedented political turmoil for Germany.

But Mrs Merkel’s struggles to form a coalition government have kept her from international affairs and damaged her standing at home. Many here wonder – despite her protests to the contrary – whether she’ll serve the full fourth term.

There is limited public enthusiasm for the revived grand coalition. In her choice of cabinet, Mrs Merkel hopes to rejuvenate her government, inspire voters with at least a semblance of a fresh start. But critics argue that there is nothing truly novel about its plans.

So perhaps it’s telling that Mrs Merkel kicks off her new term with a trip to Paris on Friday. Among the global allies most eagerly anticipating her return to the world stage is, of course, Emmanuel Macron who needs her support for plans to reform the EU.